Seven Tips For Better Conventions

Three conventions in five weekends was a great pleasure, but also exhausting! Though I'm working on a long breakdown post of 4th Street, Readercon, and Otakon,  I compiled a few tips to share on con-going. These things stuck out from con-to-con, and I think could help us all have a better time when we nerds congregate. Consider, and thanks for reading!

Instead of: interrupting the panelists with what you think are insightful comments...

Try this: ...spend this time writing down your question so that, when the panel opens to audience interaction, you have something clear to say and don't ramble. People will remember a succinct question.

Instead of: walking ten feet outside the panel room and continuing your conversation in the middle of the hall, blocking everyone else trying to get to their next destination...

Try this: ...invite your chat-buddy to an empty row of seats, or the bar or cafe, or to walk out of the hall and find a nook elsewhere that won't block traffic. Then talk to them for as long as you like as everyone else passes.

Instead of: disappearing immediately after the panel you were on...

Try this: ...look around to see if any panelists or audience members are waiting for a word with you. If you don't the time or mental bandwidth, excuse yourself for now, but offer to chat later in the con, or hand out cards with contact information.

Instead of: avoiding actors/writers/artists you love because even though this is the only weekend all year you could possibly see them, you're nervous...

Try this: ...tell them. Practice one-sentence praise if that's all your introversion allows. You can't fathom how much even one sentence in passing encourages creative people.

Instead of: touching anyone without permission, no matter how they are dressed, or how funny you think it is...

Try this: ...ask them. If it feels wrong to ask, then just don't make physical contact.

Instead of: only talking to your friends for the entire convention and then complaining that you never see young people at conventions...

Try this: ...invite new strangers to chat. It can be one-on-one, or you can invite them to sit with your group in the lobby or con suite. We all know how hard it can be when you're new and alone at a convention. Look outside your social pod for people you can include.

Instead of: putting up with unwanted attention that the other person won't stop, no matter how minor or major it is...

Try this: ...report the offending party to con staff. Codes of Conduct are becoming more common for good reasons. And if you feel uncomfortable extracting yourself, grab an ally. Even if you don't know me, just saying, "Excuse me, that person is making me feel unsafe," will be enough to get me to hang out with you until you're clear of the offending party. I'm serious.

There's at least one alliance of people who will do that same service for anyone feeling uncomfortable towards another con-goer, but I can't find the name. If you know it, please link it in the comments, and I'll add it here.

None of the above is that hard, right? Yet it slipped the minds of so many people across the three conventions that it seemed worth writing down.